Home Care - Pain Management

Medication

It is important to take your pain medicine before the anesthesia wears off. It is advisable to eat as recommended in your dietary instructions as you get home and begin the first does of pain medication immediately. The most discomfort and puffiness occurs on the third and fourth day. If a throbbing pain occurs in the jaw, ear or temporal area three to five days after surgery, and medication is not helping, please call the office for additional instructions and treatment.

Bleeding

Slight spotting from your surgical site can occur for 24 hours. Extra gauze is provided in your after care bag. You can change the gauze every 20-40 minutes until the bleeding has decreased - usually two to four hours after surgery. Slight bleeding from the sockets may last one or two days. If excessive bleeding persists, a moist tea bag may be used in the same manner as the gauze.

Should there be any bleeding under the tissue, a purplish-black discoloration or bruising may occur. This discoloration often changes from a green color to more of a yellow tint and may appear under the jaw or on the neck as the discoloration improves. This is not an uncommon occurance, and you should not be worried if it happens in your particular case. It will resolve itself in seven to ten days.

Ice & Moist Heat

Apply ice packs to the outside of the face and continue for 48 hours after your procedure to help minimize puffiness. Ice does not need to be used overnight. Expect puffiness to be at it's worse on the third or fourth day. Follow the instruction for the Ice/Heat packs in your Aftercare Goody Bag.

Numbness and Pain

Numbness may occur at the corner of the mouth, the lower lip, or the edge of the tongue on the side where a lower tooth has been removed. This is usually a temporary condition but can last a few months.

There may be an elevation of temperature for the first 48 hours. This is a normal response to any surgery. If a temperature over 101 degrees occurs and continues, please notify us.

A stiffness in the jaw is common after surgery as well. Use the heat packs in the wrap 3-4 times a day to relax the muscles.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please call us at 704-541-6070 and we will be there to help!